LILAC (라일락) — IU: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync내 마음 한켠 비밀스런 오르골에 넣어두고서nae ma·eum han·kyeon bi·mil·seu·reon o·reu·go·re neo·eo·du·go·seoI keep it in a secret music box, in a corner of my heartListen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
IU's “LILAC” is a gentle, smiling farewell set in spring, as the singer says goodbye to a love while the lilac blossoms fall. Rather than despair, there is a calm acceptance: tears are held back, the memory is kept safe like a music box, and the ending is called fitting and even sweet. The mood is bright and bittersweet, with a quiet worry about being forgotten.
Key lines
4 lines from the song in Korean, with how they sound and what they mean. The full line-by-line breakdown lives in the app.
내 마음 한켠 비밀스런 오르골에 넣어두고서Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): nae ma·eum han·kyeon bi·mil·seu·reon o·reu·go·re neo·eo·du·go·seo
Meaning: I keep it in a secret music box, in a corner of my heart
Words in this line- 내naemy
- 마음ma·eumheart
- 한켠han·kyeoncorner
- 비밀스런bi·mil·seu·reonsecretive
- 오르골에o·reu·go·reinto the music box
- 넣어두고서neo·eo·du·go·seohaving tucked away
Word for word: My heart one-corner, secretive music-box-into, having-put-away-and
Why it doesn't translate word for word: Literally the sentence trails off on the connective form 넣어두고서 ('having put it away, and…') — the main verb is left implicit, continuing into the next line. 오르골 (a music box) is a metaphor for a place to keep a precious memory so it can be replayed.
아 얼마나 기쁜 일이야Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): a eol·ma·na gi·ppeun i·ri·ya
Meaning: Ah, what a joyful thing this is
Words in this line- 아aah
- 얼마나eol·ma·nahow much
- 기쁜gi·ppeunjoyful
- 일이야i·ri·yawhat a thing
Word for word: Ah, how-much joyful thing-is
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 얼마나 … 일이야 is an exclamatory construction expressing intensity of feeling. After verses about parting, the final line pivots unexpectedly to genuine gratitude — the farewell is framed not just as sad, but also as something to be glad about.
어쩜 이렇게 하늘은 더 바람은 또 완벽한 건지Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): eo·jjeom i·reo·ke ha·neu·reun deo ba·ra·meun tto wan·byeo·kan geon·ji
Meaning: How are the sky and the wind so perfect today
Words in this line- 어쩜eo·jjeomhow come
- 이렇게i·reo·kelike this
- 하늘은ha·neu·reunthe sky
- 더deomore
- 바람은ba·ra·meunthe wind
- 또ttoalso
- 완벽한wan·byeo·kanperfect
- 건지geon·jicould it be (wonder)
Word for word: How is-it-that, sky more, wind also, perfect-whether
Why it doesn't translate word for word: The ending 건지 isn't a real question — it's an exclamation of wonder ('how is it even possible that...'); 어쩜 reinforces that same tone of amazement. Together the line isn't asking for information, it's marveling.
너의 대답이 날 울려 안녕 약속 같은 안녕Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): neo·ui dae·da·bi nal ul·lyeo an·nyeong yak·ssok ga·teun an·nyeong
Meaning: Your answer makes me cry — goodbye, a goodbye that feels like a promise
Words in this line- 너의neo·uiyour
- 대답이dae·da·bianswer
- 날nalme
- 울려ul·lyeomakes [me] cry
- 안녕an·nyeonggoodbye
- 약속yak·ssokpromise
- 같은ga·teunlike, same as
- 안녕an·nyeonggoodbye
Word for word: Your answer me makes-cry, goodbye, promise similar-to goodbye
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 안녕 means both 'hi' and 'bye' — used twice: first as the farewell itself, then inside 'a goodbye like a promise' (약속 같은 안녕), a parting that still promises reunion.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “LILAC” — IU. Quoted for commentary and learning.
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Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 결말이 | gyeol·ma·ri | ending |
| 고여도 | go·yeo·do | even if welling up |
| 그날처럼 | geu·nal·cheo·reom | like that day |
| 기분이 | gi·bu·ni | mood |
| 꽃가루에 | kkot·kka·ru·e | from pollen |
| 꽃이 | kko·chi | flower |
| 꽃잎 | kkon·nip | petal |
| 꿈처럼 | kkum·cheo·reom | like a dream |
| 나리는 | na·ri·neun | falling |
| 뜬구름처럼 | tteun·gu·reum·cheo·reom | like a floating cloud |
| 라일락 | ra·il·lak | lilac |
| 봄날의 | bom·na·rui | of our spring day |
| 봄바람처럼 | bom·ba·ram·cheo·reom | like a spring breeze |
| 어느 | eo·neu | which |
| 어울려 | eo·ul·lyeo | suits |
| 이런 | i·reon | like this |
| 지는 | ji·neun | that falls |
| 하이얀 | ha·i·yan | pure white |
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Questions about “LILAC”
What is “LILAC” by IU about?
IU's “LILAC” is a gentle, smiling farewell set in spring, as the singer says goodbye to a love while the lilac blossoms fall.
What does “내 마음 한켠 비밀스런 오르골에 넣어두고서” mean in “LILAC”?
I keep it in a secret music box, in a corner of my heart. Literally the sentence trails off on the connective form 넣어두고서 ('having put it away, and…') — the main verb is left implicit, continuing into the next line.
What does “아 얼마나 기쁜 일이야” mean in “LILAC”?
Ah, what a joyful thing this is. 얼마나 … 일이야 is an exclamatory construction expressing intensity of feeling.
How do you pronounce “어쩜 이렇게 하늘은 더 바람은 또 완벽한 건지”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “eo·jjeom i·reo·ke ha·neu·reun deo ba·ra·meun tto wan·byeo·kan geon·ji”: that's how it's actually sung by IU, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “LILAC” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Chaea goes through all 45 lines word by word, in sync with the song; the first verse is free and needs no sign-up.
Official music video
The video loads from YouTube only when you press play. YouTube ↗
Credits and sources
- Artist
- IU
- Official video
- 1theK (원더케이) · YouTube
Lyrics and music belong to their rights holders. This page quotes no more than four lines for commentary; the translations, pronunciation and explanations are written by theIDOL.